Birth Center/Midwives- hidden fees?

TheThornBird · February 2016

Hey everyone!

For those of you using a birth center or midwives (or even an OB, maybe they have these, too)- are there turning out to be a lot of extra costs? We had our first appointment with a birth center/midwife group that was in-network for our insurance; when I spoke with the center on the phone, they assured me all costs were covered by insurance. At our appointment, we were informed there was a non-refundable $300 "administrative fee" (which we stupidly paid) and now there seem to be more costs piling up. For example, they don't provide a birth assistant but require one, which is going to cost us at least another $1k and isn't covered by insurance (they have to be an RN, not just a doula). I'm a little ticked off, since I was lead to believe all costs were covered and we would pay nothing out of pocket. And I don't really understand why I need an additional assistant- isn't attending my birth what the midwife is getting paid a few thousand $ to do?

Is this normal? Am I being unreasonable? Or should I run before this turns into an even bigger mess?

wamam027 · February 2016

The ob I'm seeing delivers at a birthing center that is within network for my insurance. There have not been any additional fees and I don't anticipate receiving any, as others with the same insurance have delivered here with the same practice and haven't run into any problems with getting billed for services or any extras. An administrative fee seems a little odd to me, and did you happen to ask exactly why a birth assistant, especially an RN is required by this facility at an out of pocket expense to you? That's weird to me too.

erikalee1876 · February 2016

This seems weird..im seeing a midwive and they deliver in a hospital or birthing center my choice. ..also there are no extra fees that have come up at all is all covered by insurance company..maybe call the insurance company or switch obs and double check everything

JoMunson · February 2016

I haven't had any yet. I do have to pay a portion of my ultrasounds and blood work but that's fine since I'm chipping away at that deductible!

TheThornBird · February 2016

Thanks everyone. I ended up calling my insurance company today, who said they shouldn't be charging these extra fees (they have a contract stating they can't). So hopefully I'll get my money back, and we'll probably be moving to a different practice.

dsmith211 · February 2016

I'm at a birthing center as well. We had an administrative fee. Nowhere near what you paid though. And we're responsible for our lab fees and the anatomy scan bc those had to be done at outside facilities. They are kind of pushing us to get a doula, but it's not necessary and all other people who will be there are covered. But other than that everything is covered under the amount we were given in a contract when we made our first appointment - which won't change unless we change our insurance. We have an HSA though so we're used to this type of billing.

Knottie1433777995 · February 2016

Insurance doesn't cover our birthing center, but we haven't had any hidden fees pop up! We were told about all costs up front, all the way down to vitamins and birthing class's. We are hiring a doula which I *think* they do require, or at least highly recommend. But they have a completely different job during the birth than a midwife. We would be hiring one whether it was asked of us or not!

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Birth Center/Midwives- hidden fees?

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